The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Two RedHawks vie for national hockey team

Knapp, Wideman among 43 candidates for U.S. National Junior Team.

Big Blue’s late surge falls short against East
2/4/12
Badin avenges earlier loss to McNicholas
2/4/12
Inspired Indians surge past Colerain
2/4/12
Lakota West uses treys to upend Mason 73-65
2/4/12
RedHawks seek to keep momentum going
2/4/12
> More sports headlines

By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer 12:58 AM Friday, June 26, 2009

OXFORD — There is no real offseason for several Miami University hockey players, who will find themselves on the ice this summer, showing and sharpening their skills.

Two RedHawk sophomores, goaltender Connor Knapp and defenseman Chris Wideman have been invited to the U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp.

A total of 43 candidates for the 2010 U.S. National Junior Team will attend the camp, which will be held Aug. 7-15 in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Knapp, of York, N.Y., posted a 13-5-3 record with two shutouts and a 2.09 goals-against average in his freshman season in Oxford.

Wideman, of St. Louis, Mo., was the seventh-leading scorer in his rookie season for the national runners-up, finishing with 26 points, all on assists.

Knapp and Wideman will share the ice with two members of national-champion Boston University, defenseman David Warsofsky and forward Vinny Saponari.

Boston defeated Miami 4-3 in overtime in the Frozen Four final earlier this year.

Blue Jackets to take a look at RedHawks

Two other Miami sophomores, forwards Trent Vogelhuber and Will Weber, along with forward Kevin Roeder, who recently completed his senior season with the RedHawks, will participate in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ developmental camp June 29-July 3.

The camp for 24 prospects will consist of medical and fitness tests and on-ice and off-ice workouts.

Vogelhuber, of Dublin, Ohio, scored two goals in his freshman season, including one with 4:08 left in the third period of the national championship game which gave Miami a short-lived 3-1 lead.

Weber, a selection in the 2007 entry draft, as was Vogelhuber, totaled five points on three goals and two assists as a freshman.

Roeder, Miami’s assistant captain last season, tallied 25 points on 11 goals and 12 assists in his final year with the RedHawks. Boston’s winning goal in overtime of the Frozen Four final was deflected off Roeder’s body after he dove to stop the puck.

House building

Earlier this month all returning RedHawks, plus one incoming freshman, volunteered to help with the construction of a local Habitat for Humanity house in College Corner.

The players helped construct the roof for a family of four (a mother and three children).

Looking ahead

The start of the 2009-10 season is just three and a half months away.

The RedHawks will play an exhibition game against the University of Windsor (Canada) at home on Oct. 3 and then open the regular season at Steve Cady Arena with a two-game series Oct. 9-10 against St. Cloud State.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.

Share this article